Omnitek diesel-to-natural-gas converted engines chosen by city of Little Rock for municipal fleet

The city of Little Rock has chosen Omnitek's diesel-to-natural-gas engine conversion technology to convert the city's municipal truck fleet.

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Omnitek Engineering Corp. has announced it has been selected for a city of Little Rock, AR, pilot program intended to demonstrate the economic benefits and environmental effectiveness of the company’s EPA-approved diesel-to natural-gas engine conversion technology for the Navistar DT466E  heavy-duty truck engines utilized by the city’s municipal truck fleet. Omnitek Engineering anticipates delivering favorable results during the evaluation period, with expectations for an enlarged project during the next one-and-a-half to two-year period. Additional terms were not disclosed.

“Arkansas is committed to supporting technologies that reduce environmental pollution and utilize inexpensive natural gas, and we are gratified to have been selected. This project is an opportunity to further showcase and demonstrate the economical and effective utilization of the company’s diesel-to-natural-gas engine conversion technology. We look forward to working with the city of Little Rock and associated state officials,” says Werner Funk, President and Chief Executive Officer of Omnitek Engineering Corp.

Funk notes that the converted natural gas trucks will utilize Little Rock’s new CNG fueling station resulting in an estimated savings to the city of $2.50 to $3.00 per gallon equivalent compared with the retail price of diesel fuel.

“Our partnership with Glover’s Truck, a highly respected full-service truck center and newest Omnitek Authorized Installation Center (AIC), played a critical role in our selection. Glover’s will provide numerous additional opportunities to leverage the organization’s broad truck engine experience as more fleets transition to natural gas. We appreciate the responsiveness and commitment of the Glover’s Truck team and look forward to a successful program,” Funk says.

“We’re very proud of the Go Red! Program’s efforts to reduce diesel emissions around the state,” says Mike Bates, Chief of the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) Air Division. “Since 2008, ADEQ has distributed over $1.2 million in Go Red! funding to a wide variety of programs -- including school districts, sanitation departments, various counties and cities.

“Replacing aging diesel engines with cleaner burning engines helps cut harmful emissions and, ultimately, improves air quality,” Bates says.

He notes that diesel emissions result in increased nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons in the air. “These compounds can cause serious health concerns especially for children, the elderly and people with respiratory problems. Nationally, these emissions are linked to thousands of premature deaths, hundreds of thousands of asthma attacks, millions of lost work days and countless other health impacts every year,” Bates adds.

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